Heat-exchange apparatus



June 24, 1930. H. FELDMEIER HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. l0. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'rfoPA/ v5 r 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/ VENTO/fz R4 @7 l 51% TTaQ/Vf Ya of the Walls of the vat.

' ture of said temperature changing medium c Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT IOFFICE HARVEY FELDMEIER, OF LITTLE FALLS, rNEVI' YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CHERRY-BURRELL CORPORATION, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A COR- PORATION 0F DELAWARE HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS Original application led October 10, 1921, Serial No. 506,647. Divided and this application led August 4, 1925. Serial No. 48,159.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid pasteurizers, heaters or coolers of the so called batch or vat type in which the liquid to be pasteurized, heated or cooled is placedin bulk in a vat and is heated or cooled by causing a heating or cooling liquid to fiow in a filmover the outer surface chine of this type comprises a jacket forming an air space around the vat to insulate the vat and reduce radiation, spray pipes for discharging the temperature changing liquid against the outer surface of the vat so that it will flow in a film over such surface, a pump for circulating the temperature changing liquid, a heater for the same, and means for agitating the liquid in the vat so as to cause the different portions thereof to contact with the walls of the vat and thus increase the rapidity of exchange of heat between the liquid in the vatand the temperaturechanging or tempering medium.

The present application is a division of my co-pending application for Letters Pat.

ent filed October 10, 1921, Serial N o. 506,- 647, apparatus for heating and cooling liqnids.

The object of this invention is to pro.

vide a spray vat liquid pasteurizer, heater or cooler of the type mentioned wlth s1mple, eflicient and economically operable means whereby a large, uniform and active flow or circulation of 'the temperature changing `medium is insured; and to providea simple and practical means for readily and accurately controlling the temperato give the required results.

Other objects are to improve apparatus of this sort in the other respects hereinafter specified and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: j

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one end of the apparatus showing means embodying the invention for circulating and controlling the temperature of the temperature changing liquid.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation A well known maof the machine or apparatus on line 2 2 Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, thereof.

Fig. t is an elevation partly in section of the jet device by which the water is circulated and itstemperature controlled.

The machine herein disclosed as an embodiment of the invention is primaril intended for heating milk or other liqui too, and holding it for the required length of time at the proper temperature for pasteurization, the subsequent/cooling of the milk or liquid being performed in a separate cooler. While, for the sake of brevity and clearness of description, the machine is hereinafter described as a liquid heater, it will be understood that its construction is such that it is also adapted for cooling liquids if desired, by using a cooling medium instead of a heating medium.

10 represents the vat or vessel in which the milk or other liquid to be heated is placed, and which is preferably of the shape shown, having approximately vertical side and end walls and a rounded or semi-cylindrical bottom. This vat, which is made of some good heat conducting material, such as sheet copper, is arranged within an outer jacket or casing 11 which forms a support for the.vat and also an air space around the same to insulate the vat and reduce the radiation of heat therefrom. The jacket or casing is preferably of substantially similar shape to the vat 'but of suficiently larger dimensions to form the air space 12` between the walls of the vat and of the jacket. 13 represents supporting legs or stands of any suitable construction for the jacket 1l.`

The rear wall of the vat 10 preferably curves upwardly and inwardly, and the vat is closed by a sectional cover or lid 18 hinged to the'l curved top,thereby forming a hood or closed upper portion for the vat.

The water or other liquid for heating the milk or liquid in the vat is sprayed or discharged against the outer surface of the walls of the vat, preferably by spray pipes arranged in the air space between the vat 10 and the jacket 11. 2O represents two of these spray pipes extending lengthwise of the vat in the upper portions of the space l2 between the front and rear walls of the vat and the jacketand provided with holes alon their inner sides through which the heating liquid is discharged against the walls of the vat. Similar pipes 2On are also preferably arranged crosswise at the ends of the machine between the end walls of the circulate and is heated and its temperature regulated by a steam driving jet or ejector whichis of a construction adapted to cause an active circulation of the liquid, andka supplemental or tempering steam jet or connection under the control of a regulating valve, whereby the temperature of the circulating liquid can be accurately regulated. The connections shown for this purpose are arranged as follows:

21 represents aV return or suction pipe which extends from the bottom of the jacket or casing 11, and 22 indicates a main supply pipe which is connected by a cross pipe 23 and suitable connections 24 to the adjacent ends of the two longitudinal spray pipes 20. 25 represents a steam supply pipe which is provided with two branches 26 and 27. Connected in the liquid circulating system between the return pipe 21 and supply pipe 22- is a steam ejector or driving jet device 28, and a supplemental or tempering steam jet oi: suction T 29. The branch steam pipe 26 connects with the ejector or jet 28 which acts to draw the liquid from the bottom of the jacket or casing 11, drive the same through the supply pipe 22 and discharge the liquid from the spray pipes 2O and 20a. The other branch steam pipe 27 connects with the tempering steam jet or suction T 29. The two branch steam pipes 26 and 27 are equipped with regulating valves 30 and 31 respectively so that the two steam jet devices 28 and 29 can-be separately controlled by appropriate adjustments ot their respective valves 39 and 31. The steam driving jet or ejector 28 can be an ordinary steam ejector of well known construction having a Venturi nozzle adapted to produce circulation of the heating liquid through the pipes 21, 22 and the spray' pipes, and the tempering jet 29 can be an ordinary suction T. The driving jet or ejector'28 is properly proportioned to produce active circulation of a large volume of the liquid and to heat the circulating liquid partially, but not completely, to the required tem erature, the additional heat necessary to bring the liquid u -to the required temperature being supplied by the temperature regulating jet 29. In this way an active and substantially uniform circulation and heating of the liquid nearly to the required temperature is produced by the driving jet or ejector 28 and the supplemental jet 29 has to supply only the additional heat required to bring the liquid up to temperature. This additional heating can be readily and very accurately regulated as required without noticeable change in the flow of the liquid, by adjustment of the controlling valve 31. he temperature of the heating liquid can be gradually increased or altered as required to heat the milk or liquid in the vat to a predetermined temperature and to maintain it at this temperature as long as necessar and a substantially constant ample circu ation of the liquid is ensured by the primary or driving jet or ejector 28.

The iquid supply pipe 22 is preferably provided with a shut-off cock 32 and suitable drain plugs or valves 33 are shown in the lower portions of the return pipe 21 and branch steam pipe 27 for draining out the pipe connections when necessary. Suitable unions or nipples 34 and 35 are also preferably provided in the pipe connections between the main supply pipe 22 and the spray pipes so as to permit the convenient connection of supply pipes for cold water or a cooling medium 1n case it should be desired to cool the liquid in the vat, although in the ordinary operation of the machine it is preferred to run the liquid out of the vat through a discharge pipe or connection 36, and cool it in a separate cooler.

37 indicates an overflow pipe connected with the bottoln of the jacket or casing 11 and having an upturned outer end, see Fig. 2, whereby the level to which heating liquid can collect in the bottom of the jacket or casing, as indicated in Fig. 2, is determined.

38 represents a recording thermometer having its thermo-responsive element 38 entering the vat 10 to show and record the temperatures of the liquid being heated, and 39 represents a thermometer having its thermoresponsive element entering one of the spray pipes 20a to indicate the temperature of the spray liquid. T he required conditions, as shown by these thermometers, can be readily obtained by regulating the steam jets 28 and 29 by appropriate adjustments of the valves 3() and 31. For example, it takes about twenty to twenty-five minutes to heat a vat of milk from say O F. to 145 F. The operator watches the thermometer which indicates the temperature of the circulating water, and keeps that at about 160o F. to 170 F., and when the milk gets lll) up to 145 F., as shown by the thermometer 38, he. shuts off the steam from both jets 28 and 29. The airspace 12 between the vat and the jacket prevents any material falling olf in temperature during the holding period. 1f preferred, however, the steam jets can be regulated to give a reduced flow of the circulating water at a temperature which will prevent any drop in temperature of l0 the milk during the holding period.

40 represents the agitators or paddles for agitating the liquid in the vat to cause all portions thereof'to come into contact with the walls of the vat so'as to ensure more uniform and rapid heating of the liquid. Any

suitable number of these agitators or pad- A dles can be employed.

Any suitable actuating means for the paddles may be used, such for example as a 2o rock shaft 41 for each paddle and which is connected to a rock arm 42, oscillated by a pitman 44, connected to suitable drive mechanism (not shown). Any other suitable agitating means and drive mechanism there- 125 for could be used.v

rlhe means described' for controlling the flow and the temperature of the temperature changing medium is very efficient and practical and ensures prompt and accurate con- 3@ trol of the temperature of the substance being heated. The use of the second steam jet changes and controls the temperature of the heating medium without materially changing the speed of flow thereof.

l claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for changing the tempera-ture of a substance, in which a flowing temperature changing medium is used, the combination ofva vat containing the substance, discharge means arranged to produce a flowing lilm of the temperature changing medium on the outer surface of said vat, means associated with said discharge means to form a closed circuit in which said medium is adapted to circulate, means for directing into said circuit at one point thereof, a driving fluid jet to circulate said temperature changing medium through said circuit continuously, means for controlling said driving jet to regulate the rate of flow of the temperature changing medium, and means for admitting to said circuit at another point thereof a supplemental fluid jet lwhich alters the temperature of said circulating medium and is controllable independently of said driving jet for regulating the temperature of said circulating temperature changing medium.

2. In an apparatus for changing the temperature of a substance, in which a flowing temperature changing medium is used, the combination of a heatinterchanger containing said substance` means associated in heat interclianging relation therewith and forming a closed circuit system through which the temperature changing medium may be circulated repeatedly, means for injecting a fluid jet into said system in a manner to forcibly circulate said temperature changing medium through said circuit continuously, and separate means for adding to said circulating medium, a temperature modifying fluid which alters the temperature of said circulating medium, said means both being separately controllable for regulating the temperature and. rate of liow of said ciring a -closed circuit system through which said medium is circulated repeatedly, a steam ejector in said system for forcibly circulating said medium and partially heating it, and means for admitting steam to said medium in said system separately from said ejector to complete the heating of the circulating medium.

4. In an apparatus for heating liquids, the combination of a vat containing the liquid, discharge means arranged to produce a flowing film of a heating liquid on the outer surface of said vat, circulating connections for returning the heating liquid leaving the vat to said discharge means in a closed circulatory system, a steam ejector connected to said system to inject therein a jet of steam in a manner to cause a forced circulation of said heating liquid through said system and a partial heating of said heating liquid, a separate supplemental steam supply device also connected to said system for further raising the temperature of the heating liquid without materially affecting the rate of flow of said heating liquid in said system, and means for controlling the supply of steam from said supplemental device for regulating the temperature of the heating liquid.

5. lin an apparatus for heating liquid, the combination of a vat containing the liquid, discharge means arranged to produce a flowingv film of a heating med1um on the outer surface of said vat, circulating connections for returning the heating medium leaving the vat to said discharge means in a closed circulatory system, a steam ejector connected to said system to inject therein a jet of steam in a manner to cause a forced circulation of said heating medium through said circulatory system and a partial heating of said medium, a separate supplemental steam supply device also connected to said system at a point between the ejector and said discharge means for further raising the temperature of the. heating medium without material modification of the rate of flow of said medium in said system, and separate controlling means for said ejector and said supplemental steam supply device for independently regulating the flow and the temperature ofthe heating medium.

G. Apparatus for changing the temperature of a substance, which comprises a closed circulating system containing a heat transfer medium, means for circulating and partially heating said medium7 and separate adjustable means for admitting steam to said circulating medium in said system to supply desired additional heat and provide a sensitive temperature control for the circulating medium.

HARVEY `FELDMEIER. 

